Blogs

Class 2 Building Compliance Documentation: What Developers Must Lodge on the NSW Planning Portal

Introduction Every Class 2 apartment development in NSW now carries a documentation obligation that did not exist before 1 July 2021. The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 introduced a mandat...

apartment-design class-2-building dbp-act design-practitioner multi-residential nsw-building-compliance regulated-design

Aug 18, 2026 Approvals

Modular and Prefabricated Homes in NSW: How the New MMC Laws Will Change the Way We Build

What the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 Means for NSW Homebuilders On 4 August 2026, the NSW Parliament passed the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 — the most signifi...

NSW Planning NSW building regulations nsw-building-compliance nsw-construction planning portal 2026 planning-reforms

Aug 17, 2026 Build

NCC 2025 NSW: What the May 2027 Adoption Date Means for Your Building Project

NSW will adopt the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 on 1 May 2027 , a full 12 months after the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) published the complete code on 1 May 2026. The Minns Governme...

BASIX NSW Planning commercial-projects da-approval energy-efficiency home-renovation nsw-planning sustainability

Aug 16, 2026 Approvals

Custom vs Project Home: Why Luxury Buyers Choose Bespoke Design

Custom vs Project Home: Why Luxury Buyers Choose Bespoke Design By Franz Phan, Senior Building Designer, giantA Pty Ltd — 15+ years designing bespoke residences across Sydney's premium suburbs. When a...

bespoke-design custom-home luxury-home-design premium-residential sydney sydney-architecture

Aug 16, 2026 Architecture

NCC Energy Efficiency Freeze Until 2029: What It Means for NSW BASIX Compliance and Your Building Project

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years experience in NSW residential and multi-unit development) Introduction: Why the NCC Freeze Matters for NSW Builders and Homeow...

7 star rating BASIX NSW building regulations basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency nathers nathers-certificate nsw-planning

Aug 16, 2026 Approvals

Case Study: Multi-Unit Apartment Development in Sydney — Design to Approval Timeline

Case Study: Multi-Unit Apartment Development in Sydney — Design to Approval Timeline Author: Franz Phan, Registered Design Practitioner (NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2021), 15+ years expe...

apartment-design class-2-building design-practitioner multi-residential nsw-building-compliance

Aug 15, 2026 Case Studies

Stormwater Management and On-Site Detention (OSD) in NSW 2026: Complete Guide for Developers and Homeowners

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years NSW development experience) Introduction: Why Stormwater Management Can Make or Break Your NSW Development Every time a proper...

BASIX da-approval duplex granny-flat nsw-planning

Aug 15, 2026 Approvals

Soil Testing and Geotechnical Investigation in NSW 2026: Complete Site Classification, AS 2870 Compliance and Foundation Cost Guide

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years experience in NSW residential and multi-unit development) Why Soil Testing Is the First Decision That Shapes Your Entire Build...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning construction-costs nsw-planning soil-testing

Aug 14, 2026 Approvals

CDC vs DA in NSW (2026): Which Approval Path Is Faster for Your Project?

Real case: a two-storey addition in Parramatta qualified as complying development. The owner chose the DA route "to be safe". Seventy days and a neighbour-notification round later, the same plans coul...

Approval Process CDC Complying Development DA approval NSW Planning cdc-approval

Aug 13, 2026 Approvals

BASIX Certificate NSW 2026: Cost, 7-Star Targets and What Changed This Year

A Sydney homeowner budgeted $400 for a BASIX certificate, accepted a $99 "instant BASIX" online, and ended up paying for a redesign when the report failed the 7-star thermal review. In 2026 the BASIX ...

BASIX basix-certification energy-efficiency nsw-planning sustainability

Aug 13, 2026 Approvals

DA Checklist NSW 2026: Every Document You Need Before Lodging a Development Application

Real scenario: a 451 m² duplex site in Western Sydney, two-storey, R3 zoning. The owner lodged a DA without a proper SEE and got an RFI (Request for Information) three weeks in — adding six weeks to t...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning development application nsw-planning

Aug 13, 2026 Approvals

Torrens Title vs Strata Title Subdivision in NSW 2026: Complete Cost Comparison, Process & Decision Guide

Torrens Title vs Strata Title Subdivision in NSW 2026: Complete Cost Comparison, Process Decision Guide Subdividing land in New South Wales offers one of the most reliable pathways to unlock property ...

DA approval NSW Planning construction-costs home-renovation nsw-planning

Aug 13, 2026 Approvals

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